In accordance with other studies [34], plasma albumin concentrations were lower in patients with RA compared with the controls (4.2 ± 0.6 versus 5.9 ± 0.6 g/dL, P < 0.0001) and lower in patients' SF than in plasma (2.2 ± 0.5 versus 4.2 ± 0.6 g/dL, P < 0.0001). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and rheumatoid arthritis.